The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-03-26
AVERY ROUGH VOYAGE
THE STEAMSHIP SCOTIA
Grounds In the Sand Nsar Fire Island with
Twelve Hundred People on Doard-A
Scene of wild Confusion Mingled
with Ninny Denpniring Cries.

BROOKLYN, March 25.-The BteamshiI
sco!ia OF tho Fsbre Line, that plies be
tween New York and tho Mediterranean
went sshore at Blue Point Station, ili,eer
miles east OF Fire Island lighthouse, dur
Ing tho terrible gale this morning.
She took the beach with her head or
but finally worked around broadside or
In the irightfully high sea that was run
ming. 49,. Z
An east.northeast hurricane was blow.
Ing at q velocity OF 70 miles an hour, aud
as soon as the vessel became caught IL
the qnicksands the sea was cast in all d.
rections about her by tho violent huui.
cane. The waves made clean bres cll
over her deck and when the vessel was
discovered by the lie saving crow her two
masts had been swept from their stepping
by the angry seas. l = :
The vessel when she departed from
Ma'seilles, on February 20, had on board
several hundred passengers. These, for
the most part, were Italian emigrants
bound 10 this country to settle In the
weat. AT Naples where she called few
days afterward, there embarked 800 pas.
seuKers. These were from her sister chip,
the Bergunda, which was previously sunk
in the disastrous collision with the Italian
msn.of.war Italia. These passengers swell.
ed the list 10 nearly l,l00. A few others
were taken on at Gibraltar, which point
che left on February eth. The vessel
experienced unusual severe weather on
tho passage across and much anxiety was
felt ior the passengers on board.
When the steamer encountered the land
the majority OF passengers we're resting.
With the first shock several hundred OF
them rushed on deck, and panic ensued.
The officers and crew were powerless.
When the waves began breaking over the
decks the women shrieked and fell on
their knees imploring help, while the
children cluug 10 their garments crying
and screaming. The anguish of the
women in trying to protect the little ones
from this spray was pitiful TO behold. The
carrying away OF the masts added to the
terror OF the passengers, and they clutched
ono another as though they expected to be
the next to be swept away.
Tho vessel gradually settled in the loose
sand and at 10 o'clock, when she was first
discovered by the coast guard, there was not
more than half dozen feet Of free board
left. Every sea makes clear breach over
her decks, carrying everything movable
overheard. When first discovered the
vessel was in the midst OF very high SOS
which was sweeping her fore aud att. The
high northessterly winds which prevailed
prevented the life savers from making any
attempts at rescue. They tried savera
times, however, to fire the line by msans
OF mortar on shore, but each time the aim
was too low and the line fell wide OF the
mark. When they finally succeeded ir
getting line to the vessel it was OF little
or no use, owing TO the heavy SEA. a
great crowd OF people has assembled or
the beach and are endeavoring by every
means in their power to assist the life say.
ing crew. It ia believed that several Of
the passengers have been swept over
board by the waves.
The Scotia is under the French flag anc
halls from Marseillcs. She was built q
Lsith, Scotland, November, 1871, and is
Therefore comparatively new. She ia bris
rigged and registered 2,49o gross tons
There is but little hope Of saving the yes
sci. Her agents in this city, James E
Elwell & Co., South street, have sent as.
sistancs to the vessel. The Scotia, with
her cargo, is valued at from 100000 te
$3.50 600.